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9.11.2009

Sweetwater

Who remembers this band from the late Sixties? Man, I do! I l-o-v-e-d this album and played it until it was nothing but scratches and skips. I first encountered them when they played at the Oxnard Civic Auditorium in 1968 or 1969, I can't remember. The next day I went out and bought the album.

Sweetwater was best known as the first group scheduled to play at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, although they eventually were the fifth act to go on. Due to problems within the band, Richie Havens became the first performer. Oh well, he was great too.

Sweetwater pioneered the psychedelic rock/classical fusion style that was popularized by Jefferson Airplane and regarded as the archetypal "Sixties Sound". They often toured with The Doors and were also one of the opening acts for Eric Burdon & The Animals in 1968.

Three days after Sweetwater performed on The Red Skelton Show, singer Nancy Nevins was badly injured in a car accident, which stopped the progress of the band. Nancy experienced brain damage for a number of years following the collision as well as permanent damage to one of her vocal cords. The group reunited for Woodstock '94 in 1994.

Here is the line-up of songs on this album. My favorite was In a Rainbow.